Folding table



Ap 15, 1952 A. WESSlG 2,592,839

FOLDING TABLE Filed Aug. 19, 1947 Patented Apr. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" FOLDING TABLE August Wessig, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 19, 1947, Serial No. 769,398 1 Claim. (Cl. 311-84) The invention relates to folding tables.

One object of the invention is to provide a folding table which is simple in construction, rigid when unfolded for use and in which the leg structures can be folded against the underside of the table for storage or transportation.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from the underside of a table unfolded for use;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the folded table;

Fig. 3 is a perspective illustrating one of the lower cross members and the socket-forming plate thereon;

strut bar with a hook-plate thereon for connection to the lower cross members; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through one end of the strut with the hook-plate thereon and a lower cross member with the spring detent for securing the strut in its operative position.

The invention is exemplified in a table comprising a top Ill and a pair of leg structures hinged to the underside of and along opposite edges of the top. Cleats II are rigidly secured to the underside of and extend along opposite edges of the top with their outer faces coplanar with the contiguous edge. One of the leg structures includes a pair of legs [2 and an upper cross bar l3 rigidly secured to said legs. Hinges I4 pivotally connect said leg structure and the top so that the outer face of cross bar 43 and the upper portions of legs l2 fit snugly and abut against the inner face of the contiguous cleat ll.

The opposite leg structure comprises legs and an upper cross bar it; which rigidly connects the upper ends of said legs and is also connected by hinges M to the underside of top It. The outer face of bar It and the upper end portions of legs [5 fit snugly and abut against the inner face of contiguous cleat H. Legs l5 are spaced apart so that they are adapted to fold between the legs l2.

The legs l2 are rigidly cross connected by a lower member which includes a metal strip 23 which is secured by screws 2! to the coplanar outer faces of said legs. The legs l5 are rigidly connected by a lower cross member which consists of a bar 2!. A block 22 is secured by screws 23 to the inner face of metal strip and terminates inwardly of legs 2 to provide spaces be tween said block 22 and legs 12 into which legs l5 are foldable.

A metal plate is secured by screws 27 to the .1 Fig. 4 is a perspective of one end portion of the inner face of block 22 and is provided with a central offset portion 28 which forms a socket 29 between the plate and the contiguous face of said block. A similar plate 26 is secured to the inner face of bar 2|.

A strut bar 24 is adapted to extend between the lower cross members of the leg structures and to lock them in vertical position so that the outer faces-of the upper cross bars I 3 and IE will firmly abut against the inner faces of cleats H. This strut bar is detachably connected to the cross members to permit the leg :structures to be folded. Each end of strut bar 24 has fixedly secured thereto by screws 30 an angle plate 3| which is provided with an angular extension or tongue 32 which is adapted to slidably fit one of the sockets 29 on the cross bars. Each angular extension 32 is spaced from the contiguous end of bar 24 to provide a space for receiving one of the plates 28 and is adapted to be hooked into either of the sockets 29. Each extension 32 is provided with a hole or recess 33. A ball 34 is confined in a socket 36 which is drilled into block 22 and a. spring 35 is confined in said socket to urge ball 34 outwardly to engage recess 33, for holding the strut bar against accidental displacement. A similar spring-pressed ball is provided in the cross bar 2 I.

When the table is extended or unfolded for use as illustrated in Fig. 1, the upper ends of the leg structures will firmly abut against the inner faces of the cleats II and the strut bar 24 will be securely connected to the lower cross members of the leg structures and hold the leg structures firmly and rigidly in vertical relation. When the table is to be folded, the strut bar 24 is unhooked from sockets 29.

The recesses 33 in plates 3| will cam the spring-pressed balls 34 to permit withdrawal of extensions 32 from sockets 29. When the strut bar has been thus disconnected, the leg structure I5, l6, 2! will be folded to lie against the underface of the top. The leg structure [2, 13 with strip 20 and block 22 will next be folded against the underface of top H], the legs l2 fitting outwardly of and along side legs 15 with the strip 20 overlying the legs l5. The spaces between the ends of block 22 and legs l2 permit the legs [5 to underlie the metal bar 2 l.

The top I0, cleats II and the leg structures with the exception of bar 2| are usually formed of wood. The metal strip 20 provides a stable connection between the legs l2.

The invention exemplifies a foldable table which is simple iii construction, readily foldable and which when unfolded will form a sturdily supported structure. The strut bars 24 and the inter-fitting connections between plates 3| and 26 and the spring-pressed balls 34 firmly secure the strut bars between the leg structures so that the strut bar will form a rigid lower connection between them. When it is desired to fold the table it is only necessary to disconnect the strut bars 24 from the sockets 29, the spring-pressed balls 34 permitting this to be done. To release the leg structures for folding, it is only necessary to disconnect the strut bar from the leg structures. In unfolding the table it is only necessary to swing the leg structures in a vertical position and secure the strut bar to the lower cross members of the leg structures.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A folding support comprising: a top; leg struccross-bars; devices for detachably connecting the ends of the strut to the cross-bars, each device including a plate formed of fiat metal bent to form integral horizontal and vertical flanges, the horizontal flange fitting on and secured on the top face of the strut, each end of the strut 35 being spaced from and parallel to one of the a spring-pressed ball in said last named socket and a seat for the ball in the outer face of one of the vertical flanges.

AUGUST WESSIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 873,118 Cassels Dec. 10, 1907 1,448,642 Tomlinson Mar. 13, 1923 1,549,586 Marsh Aug. 11, 1925 1,645,879 Skeels Oct, 18, 1827 1,732,508 Farris Oct. 22, 1929 1,817,760 Peters Aug. 4, 1931 1,855,009 Clegg Apr. 19, 1932 1,876,999 McCaslin Sept. 13. 1932 2,124,007 Peters July 19, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 302,530 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1928 

